Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmad Yassin has ruled out the prospect of a ceasefire while Israel continues what he described as its aggression after occupation soldiers shot dead a Palestinian teenager. Yassin emerged in the occupied Gaza Strip on Wednesday after keeping a low profile following an Israeli assassination attempt on his life earlier this month. He said the question of a truce, which was proposed by Palestinian President Yasser Arafat last week, had not been discussed between Hamas and Palestinian Prime Minister-designate Ahmad Qurei. Both Hamas and Islamic Jihad, spearheading the Intifada or uprising against Israelâs occupation, called off a seven-week ceasefire on 22 August after an Israeli helicopter attack assassinated top Hamas leader Ismail Abu Shanab.
| No. They called off the ceasefire when they boomed the bus... |
Yassin also ruled out joining a government under Qurei, saying it was not Hamasâ goal to join an administration but liberate Palestinian land and people. Asked about Qureiâs vow to end the âmessâ of weapons in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, Yassin said Hamas would not surrender its arms to the Palestinian Authority. âOur people carry their weapons to defend themselves and nobody can take away these arms before the liberation of our holy sites,â he said.
| More of the same. Wonder how long he'll stay out of his hole? |
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